EPISD student speakers showcase skills in TED Ed presentations
(CENTER FOR CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION -- May 22, 2018) — EPISD’s 25 TED Ed Club members took on topics as varied as the new Scouts, gun violence and cyberbullying during its second annual district event at the CCTE auditorium last week.
Just like the TED Talks that have become popular on YouTube because of its compelling speakers and interesting subject matters, EPISD’s Ted-Ed clubs hope to attract students who want to improve their public speaking skills.
“TED Ed Clubs help students discover their passion and develop their ideas about that passion,” said Jason Long, executive director of Innovation, Design and Development. “They learn about presentation literacy, to share their ideas individually or as a group with others.”
On Thursday, Coldwell Elementary School’s two groups – “Smack in the Middle” and “Our Voice” – tied for first place, while Brown Middle School’s “Bees: Beneficial or Incompetent?” tied with Cielo Vista Elementary School’s “Cooking with Love” for second place.
All four will advance to TEDx ElPaso to present their talks on Sept. 22.
In 1984, TED began as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design came together and ideas were shared in the form of brief, but powerful talks. Thirty years later, in 2014, TED-Ed Clubs – a student initiative of TED – was started to help students learn to give a TED-style talk.
EPISD started its clubs in 2016 with 15 campuses. This year, another four joined the program and eventually the district hopes to have a club at every school.
Collaboration is key to TED Ed Club talks. In TED Ed Clubs, students work together to discuss and celebrate creative ideas. Club leaders receive TED-Ed's flexible Clubs curriculum to guide their school's club and to help inspire tomorrow's TED speakers and leaders.
“There are a lot of age groups here. It shows that you can express your ideas and any age and that it’s important to talk and learn how to deliver what you mean,” said Burges High sophomore Alyssa Quesada, who presented “Eudaimonia.” “I’ve learned a lot from what others have to offer. TED Talks provides ideas. It’s important to listen to other’s ideas.”
Photos by Leonel Monroy